The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-01-20
SEVERAL WELL KEPT SECRETS.
How Mr.. Arthur Camo Near Dying when
Prnaislant

fre5lUcOCs
DR.. Lincoln, one of the most prominent
of the physicians here, was the regular
attendant of President Arthur. Since the
latter's death the doctor has given an &C.
count of two serious attacks OF illness
Of Arthur when he was president about
which the public has never heard word.
Arthur came near dying three times, once
while vice-president and twice while ne
was president. Ono attack which nearly
carried him off, and which Is known to
tho public, occurred on board the Talla-
poosa when Mr.. Arthur was absent on hiB
Florida trip. The news of this attack got
out, and within few days afterward
exact details of the danger through which
the president had passed were given. These
stories were at that time denied ut the
White House in the most positive and
dogmatic way. The president was so sem
sitive upon the subject of his health that
the obsequious members of his personal
staff felt called upon to make denials OF
what they knew to be true,
DR.. Lincoln says that there were two
other occasions when the president came
as near dying rs upon the occasion of his
Florida trip. His first serious attack oc-
CURED in Senator Jones' house on Capitol
hill, when Arthur was vice-president
This attack took place during Arthur's
! visit to Washington in July, after he had
been called here to await the result OF
Garflcld's wounds Mr.. Arthur at that
time was weighed down with worry and
responsibility. He was very emotional
man. The criticisms of that time, the cx-
citemcnt of his surroundings, and the re-
sponsibility which was threatening to
come upon his shoulders made combina-
ton Of outward influence which depressed
him very much. Then he caught cold,
and this cold brought on an attack of ner-
vous rheumatism. DR.. Lincoln was sum-
moned to attend him one night and found
Mr.. Arthur in O very dangerous condition.
DR.. Lincoln really thought he would die
Tho news of this attack was well kept
Not single member of the Garfield cab.
met ever know it. The knowledge was
confined to Dr.. Lincoln and Senator Jones'
Not even tho servants were given to un-
derstand that tho illness was anything
more than an ordinary cold. Think what
sensation was suppressed by this close
mouthetl doctor! Garfield was lying at
the point of death at the White House
and his successor for twenty-four hours
was at the point of death in another part
Of the town.
The second occasion when DR.. Lincoln
was called in to stand between Mr.. Arthur
and second call Of death was after Mr..
Arthurs return from the Yellowstone
valley. This trip was very severe upon
him. Instead of beneflting him the result
was serious Injury. The roughing it, In
stead Of building him up, pulled him down.
He had gotten beyond the point when he
could stand such treatment When he re-
turned from the west to the White House
he was in most distressing condition,
When DR.. Lincoln came to see him he
found him suffering horrible pain. His
legs were swollen nearly to the size OF his
body. This was the positive indication OF
the development Of Bright's disease. DR..
Lincoln was able to relieve MIR. Arthur
and to reduce the distension. But if he
had not received medical attendance very
promptly he would have died at that time
and Acting Vice-P President George F. Ed
munds would have been his successor.
The news of this attack was never known
outside of tho presidents immediate at
tendants in tho White House, Secretary
Frelinghuysen and Dr.. Lincoln. None OF
tho other members Of the cabinet were
ever told of this attack. This second III.
ness was another one of the well preserved
secrets Of the Arthur administration
Washington Cor. New York World.